Swine Flu - The Basics

The basics get the facts now.

The information gathered on this site is as accurate as possible, the information has been gathered from a number of Government sites to make one condensed web site for people to build their knowledge. Whilst all efforts are made to maintain the information on this site, this should act as no substitute for seeking professional advice from your local heath officals should you have any concerns.

What is swine flu?

Why is swine flu affecting humans?

Is the new swine flu virus contagious?

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

How long are symptoms expected to last?

How is swine flu infection diagnosed?

Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?

How dangerous is it?

How does swine flu cause death?

Should we expect a more severe second wave of the pandemic in the winter?

Should I go to work or school if I have been in contact with someone who I know has swine flu?

What is swine flu the facts?

Swine influenza is a disease that originated in pigs. The virus currently transmitting among people is now generally referred to as swine flu, although the origin of the disease is still under investigation. There is no evidence of this strain of the disease circulating in pigs in the UK.

There are regular outbreaks of swine influenza in pigs worldwide. It does not normally infect humans, although this occasionally does occur - usually in people who have had close contact with pigs.

Swine influenza viruses are usually of the H1N1 subtype. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of this virus.

Why is swine flu affecting humans?

Because the swine flu virus has mutated (changed) and is now able to infect humans and transmit between them.

Which people are the most vulnerable to swine flu?

Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are:

people with chronic lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
people with chronic heart disease,
people with chronic kidney disease,
people with chronic liver disease,
people with chronic neurological disease (such as include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease),
people with suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
people with diabetes,
pregnant women,
people aged 65 years and older, and
young children under five years old.

For specific advice on antiviral treatment for these groups, go to People with long-term conditions, Pregnancy and children and Older people.

How is swine flu infection diagnosed?

Diagnosis of swine flu is now based on an assessment of the person's symptoms, rather than having to wait for a swab test result. Health professionals will continue to test some patients to ensure they keep getting up-to-date information about the virus.

Is the new swine flu virus contagious?

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says the new swine flu virus is highly contagious and is spreading from person to person.

Swine flu spreads in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.

If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to the person you might breathe them in.

Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.

How long does the virus live on surfaces?

The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.

What is the incubation period for swine flu?

According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but is most likely to be between two and five days. It is, however, too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with absolute certainty at this time.

When are people most infectious?

People are most infectious to others soon after they develop symptoms, although they continue to shed the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone, they are no longer considered infectious to others.

How quickly is swine flu spreading?

Swine flu is now widespread in the UK and spreading rapidly. The number of new cases in the UK is doubling every seven days. Most of these are because people are catching swine flu in their local community and not as the result of foreign travel.

Should I avoid contact with people suspected of having swine flu?

All suspected cases who have swine flu symptoms will have been asked to self-isolate at home and restrict their contact with people. The vast majority of people should go about their normal activities, including going to school or work. This includes children who attend a school with a confirmed case of swine flu.

There is no need on risk grounds to avoid contact with people who might simply have come into contact with those having the illness, such as the parents of children at schools with a confirmed case but who are not themselves ill.

How dangerous is it?

It is difficult to judge this at the moment. While there have been deaths in Mexico and a small number outside of Mexico, including the UK, symptoms exhibited by most infected people have not been severe.

It appears that early doses of antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu are effective in helping people to recover. In the UK we have enough antivirals to treat half the population if they were to become ill. Also, orders of Tamiflu have been placed to increase UK supplies to 50m doses, enough to treat 80% of the population.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing (see Symptoms). Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

How long are symptoms expected to last?

As with any sort of influenza, the severity and duration of symptoms will vary depending on treatment and individual circumstances. Most cases reported in the UK to date have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a week.

How does swine flu cause death?

Like any other type of flu, people can die from swine flu if they develop complications, like pneumonia.

Has the swine flu virus developed resistance to Tamiflu?

Not at the moment. Routine sampling of the virus in the UK has shown that there is currently no resistance to either Tamiflu or Relenza.

One flu H1N1 virus strain showing Tamiflu resistance was reported in a patient in Denmark who had received treatment - however, Tamiflu resistance in individual patients does occur in a low percentage of cases and is of limited public significance. The Health Protection Agency is monitoring whether such viruses are being transmitted from person to person.

Will the swine flu virus become resistant to antivirals in the future?

It is possible. The virus may mutate (change) and become less susceptible or resistant to the antiviral drug, and then spread from person to person. If the virus does develop resistance, it’s more likely to be to Tamiflu, the main antiviral treatment. If this happens, the government has a stockpile of Relenza that could be used instead.

Should we expect a more severe second wave of the pandemic in the winter?

Features of previous flu pandemics suggest that the current viral strain will become even more widespread in the autumn or winter, causing more illness and death. It is possible that the virus will mutate (change) into a more potent strain.

Should I go to work or school if I have been in contact with someone who I know has swine flu?

Yes, as long as you do not have flu-like symptoms. If you are feeling well, you should go about your normal activities, including going to school or work.